The Leader has been named the best large weekly newspaper in Arkansas. It has offices in Jacksonville and Cabot and covers north Pulaski County, Lonoke County and White County. The Leader is a family owned and operated newspaper that was founded in 1986.

Friday, October 26, 2012

TOP STORY >> Four arrests in killing of Cabot man

By JOAN McCOY
Leader staff writer

Four murder suspects are in custody after the discovery of the buried body of James Heath, a Cabot man missing since Sept. 16.

Taylor Arnold of Sherwood was charged with murder Thursday after leading investigators to Heath’s body behind a house at 10306 Centennial Road in northern Pulaski County. Heath, 46, was beaten to death with a baseball bat.

On Friday afternoon, Joyce Renee Rollf, 40, who lives at the address where Heath’s body was buried, and William R. Hull, 24, of 462 Sherman Hill Road, Jacksonville, were detained in Pope County in western Arkansas following a traffic stop.

John Posey, 35, was arrested Friday evening. Rolff was in a hospital after she tried to slash her wrists.

A $500 reward was made two weeks ago, but that reward apparently played no part in the discovery of Heath’s body.

The report of Arnold’s arrest says he was acquainted with Heath. His relationship to Rollf and Hull has not been released.

Heath was staying with Matt Brannon in Cabot when he disappeared.

Brannon said Heath was known as DJ because of his work at a radio station.

Ten days after he disappeared, Jacksonville police detained Cary Carter, who was driving Heath’s van. Brannon said then that his friend would not have let anyone borrow it because it was his most valuable possession.

Heath was disabled from a wreck when he was younger. Another friend said he grew up in Cabot and was known by many. She described him as a “completely good-hearted guy.”

That he was dead was not really a surprise, she said.

“After so many days and weeks, you know something has happened,” especially considering that he left his dog behind.